Heel-blank



(No Model.)

' P. F. RAYMOND, 2d. HEEL BLANK.

Patented Dec. 15,1891.

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FREEBORN F. RAYMOND, 2D, OF NEW'TON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEEL-BLAN K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,029, dated December 15, 1891.

Application filed May 4, 1887. Serial No. 287,049. (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern:

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates to the class of heels or heel-blanks known as pieced heels, and

comprises a method of joining, clamping, or-

uniting the adjacent pieces or lifts of a heel or heel-blank rigidly and closely together and preferably while the heel-blank or heel is held compressed by suitable dies or compressing devices; also, the part or heel-blank then made as an improved article of manufacture.

In practicing the invention I prepare by dieing or cutting from scrap leather the pieces of which each lift is made, and I then assemble these pieces in lifts and arrange the lifts in a heel-blank so that the joints between the pieces of every other lift come upon the same vertical line. 1 then subject the heel-blank to compression in suitable dies or molds to bring the pieces of each lift solidly together, and then form in the heel-blank holes upon each side of the joints and insert into said holes, preferably from the heel-seat end or surface of the heel, metal fastenings, preferably staples, which preferably are driven entirely through the heel-blank and-clinched upon the surface opposite that from which they are entered, and these fastenings or staples are driven while the blank is held compressed and they serve to hold the edges of the pieces of each lift and the various lifts firmly and solidly together during the subsequent wear or life of the heel. A heel-blank thus made also requires fewer attaching-nails for fastening orattaching it to the soles of a boot or shoe.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in ver tical section representing a portion of a heel compressing and pricking mechanism, showing the lift of the heel-blank as compressed but notpunctured. Fig. 2 represents the same parts, the awls having been moved downward into the compressed heel-blank. Fig. 3 represents the lifts of the heel-blank as secured together by fastenings and the devices for feeding and driving them while the heel-blank is compressed. Fig.4; is a plan View of a lift,

is also a plan View of a heel, showing the use of separate fastenings for securing the pieces together at the joints, instead of the fastenings represented in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a section of a heel-blank, representing the fastenings driven through the heel-blank from the seatand the relation which they bear to the joints of the heel. Fig. 9 is a view in plan of an attached heel-blank. .Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of the heel-blank, showing the relation of the joints to each other. Fig. 11 is a vertical section of an attached blank. Fig. 12 is a view representing the fastenings driven from the seat of the heelblank, so that their points or ends shall extend above the other surface of the heel and serve to receive and hold a top lift.

Referring to the drawings, A is a view in plan of a lift made from pieces of one form or size, and A represents a lift made from pieces cut to another form or shape. The pieces of lifts, however, mayhave any desired shape, so long as they are made uniform or regular, and so that their joints shall come in line with each other. I prefer to use two forms of lifts, or lifts having two different arrangements of pieces, in forming the heelblank, so that the joints of every other lift only shall come in line, and I have represented this construction in Fig. 10.

B is one form of staple used in practicing my invention.

The lifts are assembled together into a heelblank and placed in a compressing device or mold C, by which the heelblank is subjected to side compression. as well as to vertical compression, and the pieces of the lifts are moved under very considerable pressure into contact with each other and held so during the formation of the heels. These holes are preferably formed simultaneously by a gang or group of awls, (see Fig. 1,) and they are arranged in groups of two, one hole upon one side of the vertical joints and the other upon the other side, and they are preferably formed from the heel-seat end of the heel, although they may be formed from the other end. Into these holes are driven the staples B through holes I) in the templet, and their ends I) preferably are clinched. I prefer that they be driven from the heel-seat end of the heel, although it is not necessary that they should be so driven, and the prongs of each fastening serve to bind and hold together the pieces of each lift in the position into which they have been moved or pressed by the operation of the heel molding or compressing device, so that upon the removal of the blank from the die or molding machine it retains the shape into which it has been molded by the dies or compressing device and will continue to hold such shape until it is used and practically worn out.

Of course it is not necessary that the entire heel-blank shall be made of lifts. formed from pieces, and where the lifts are alternated-that is, Where there is first a lift of pieces and then a whole lift-01 where the lifts. are arranged so that the joints are overlapped in successive order by Whole pieces of making lifts formed of two or more pieces the pieces are first brought into close relation to each other and the entire heel-blank solidly compressed, and that the pieces and lifts are then fastened or secured together while they are held in this compressed condition,so that upon the release of the pressure the fasten ings serve to continue to bind and hold the pieces and lifts together substantially as they were held together while under pressure; also, that a heel-blank thus constructed can be more easily trimmed than pieced heels not so constructed, in that the corners of the pieces near the edge of the heel are held bound together and securely hold the pieces during the action of the trimming knife or cutter upon them.

Having thus fully described my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States' 1. As an improved article of manufacture,

a heel-blank orheel madewholly orin part of lifts formed of separate pieces, the joints of which lifts are arranged in vertical'lines to alternately form break-joints, and thesaid lifts being united together by metal fastenin gs connected at one, end and driven in relation to thesaid joints. so that oneprong or fastening shall extend through the pieces upon one side of each joint and the other through the pieces on the other side of the joint, whereby the pieces areheld or'bound together, as and for the purposes specified.

2. As an-improved article of manufacture, a heel-blank composed of lifts made up of separate pieces. of leather and arranged, as described, so that the joints thereof extend diagonally through the completed heel-blank at intersecting vertical planes and secured by double pronged fastening devices driven across the intersecting lines, as set forth.

FREEBORN F. RAYMOND, 2D.

Witnesses:

J. M. DoLAN, FRED. B. DOLAN. 

